Scientists have found yoga can significantly reduce blood pressure in pre-hypertensive patients.
A study conducted by researchers from the Department of Neurophysiology of the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH) saw the change within six months. The team chose 120 patients to understand the effect yoga had on ambulatory blood pressure in pre-hypertension patients - people with high normal blood pressure.
For the study, patients were divided into two groups:
1. Group A - Participants were assigned to practise yoga.
2. Group B - Participants had to quit smoking and follow a diet and exercise plan.
"Twenty-four hour diastolic BP particularly the night diastolic and mean arterial pressures showed a significant decrease from the baseline in the yoga group compared to the conventional group, whose members underwent lifestyle modifications at 12 weeks," author of the study Nandini Agarwal told a news portal. Adding, "This study has convincingly demonstrated that yoga intervention in patients with pre-hypertension can significantly reduce blood pressure."
Hypertension has become a growing health issue around the world. One in five adults is reportedly affected by it across the globe.
Experts warn pre-hypertension needs to be treated as early as possible as it is a precursor of clinical hypertension and can lead to cardiovascular disease.
"Patients with pre-hypertension (120- 139 / 80-89 mmHg) have an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality compared with patients who have normal blood pressure (less than 120/80 mmHg)," co-author of the study Sandeep Joshi told a news portal.
